A HUMBLE teacher who protected his Petersfield students during a shootout in Canada has been recognised for his immense bravery.

Ricardo Ramshaw was praised for his heroism when he shielded his students from a gunman in a Toronto shopping centre last June.

The teacher at The Petersfield School (TPS) then defied the authorities by refusing to leave the Eaton Centre until accounting for all of his party.

The 35 year old has since been crowned Petersfield's teacher of the year by a panel of judges following a nomination by his headteacher.

The shootout took place on the second day of a two-week tour of Ontario in the subterranean food hall of the downtown shopping mall.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.